Weekly Address — March 12, 2020

From the historic hallways of the most beautiful state Capitol in our nation, this is Senator Keith Ingram.

Beginning this week, the Census Bureau will begin mailing out forms. I urge everyone to take the time to fill it out and return it, whether you choose to respond by mail, telephone or online.

It’s critically important for your community that everyone gets counted. The tax dollars you send to Washington are distributed across the country, according to the population of each region. If we’re under-counted we won’t receive as much federal funding as we’re entitled to.

If we are under-counted by as little as 1 percent, it would cost Arkansas a billion dollars over the next decade.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want our federal highway funds going to California or New York. I want every penny coming right back to Arkansas.

The Census Bureau has discovered that children under the age of five are often not counted, especially if they are temporarily living with a grandmother, or other family members.

Children should be counted in the household where they sleep most of the time. If they divide their time equally between households, count them where they are actually staying on April the first.

Here are a few tips, to help you avoid scammers who may try to obtain information from you illegally. The Census Bureau will never ask for your Social Security number. Never.

The Census Bureau will not ask for bank account or credit card numbers.

Responding to the census is absolutely free, so remember that the Census Bureau will never ask for money, fees, or donations.

All the information you provide to the Census Bureau is strictly confidential. Census agents face severe criminal penalties for allowing any personal information to be leaked.

Responding to the census is like voting. It’s a way to participate in our democratic process, which is still the greatest system of government that mankind has ever established.

From the Capitol, it is my great honor and most sincere privilege to serve you as your state Senator. This is Keith Ingram.

Audio Recording from March 12, 2020